New Milford Mayor & Council Reorganization

The make up of the council changed Wednesday night at a standing room only reorganization meeting of the mayor and council.

What had been a 5-1 Republican majority for most of 2011, is now a 3-3 split with the swearing in of Randi Duffie (D) for her second term and Hedy Grant (D) for her first term of office. (Austin Ashley, who successfully ran on the ticket with Duffie and Grant, took the oath of office in November to fulfill an unexpired term.)

Assemblywoman Connie Wagner administered the oath of office to both Duffie and Grant. Prior to giving the oath of office, Wagner briefly addressed the audience emphasizing her

Mayor Ann Subrizi recognized the work of outgoing council members Celeste Scavetta (R) and Peter Rebsch (R), as well as the newly installed fire chiefs and officers. Outgoing Fire Chief Ralph Leonardi was presented with a plaque by Fire Department liaison Councilman Dominic Colucci for his dedication of service. 

Subrizi opened the new business portion of the reorganization meeting by calling for a vote for council president. Both Duffie and current Council President, Howard Berner, were nominated for the position. Each nomination was a 3-3 tie, but with Subrizi casting the deciding vote, Berner was re-elected Council President for 2012. 

Council liaisons are:

• Berner: Planning Board, Chamber of Commerce, Historic New Bridge Landing
• Duffie: Health & Human Services, Rent Leveling/Tenants Association, Historic Preservation Commission
• Robalino: Board of Education, Drug & Alcohol Municipal Alliance
• Ashley: Garbage & Recycling, Public Events, Recreation, Shade Tree Commission
• Grant: Environmental & Energy Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Ambulance Corps.
• Colucci: Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Buildings & Grounds, Joint Insurance Fund
• Subrizi: Police/Police Aux., Senior Citizens Advisory, Community Development, Bergen County Open Space

It was evident from the first vote that this newly formed council will be evenly divided on several issues. Subrizi's vote was needed to break the tie for the approval of appointments of Labor Attorney, Borough Auditor and Borough Planner.

Douglas Doyle of the law firm of DeCoitiis, FitzPatrick and Cole was reappointed the town's Labor Attorney; Gary Higgins of the firm Lerch, Vinci & Higgins was reinstated as Borough Auditor; and Joseph Burgis of Burgis Associates, Inc. was voted to replace Dennis Kirwan of DK Planning as Borough Planner. Subrizi said this replacement was necessary in light of the application that was recently filed for the United Water Company property.

"A one-man firm just didn't work out. It didn't meet our needs," she said.

Re-appointed to one-year terms were Mark Madaio as Borough Attorney and Tax Appeal Attorney; Lisa Aljian as Rent Leveling Attorney; and Michael Kingman as Prosecutor.